Friday, May 8, 2015

Notes from a Political Dim Wit

Okay, so the big news today is of course that the map of the UK is way too blue. It looks like forty percent of the country just sank. (I'm not sure what my train will be travelling on tonight.) And various MP's and Party Leaders have jumped ship.

Now as a self-confessed Political Dim Wit, writing a blog on the General Election could be a huge mistake. I feel I don't understand enough. I feel I don't have a right to make comments as I don't know what the feck I'm talking about. And yet, getting up this morning and reading people's comments and seeing the graphs and statistics and looking at the numbers, I can't help but feel a sense of loss. A certain sadness. And a certain unease.

I'm the kind of person who has so much going on in her head that sometimes I find it easier to take a step back and detach myself from the world, otherwise I'm not sure I'd ever get anything done. And I'm not sure I'd necessarily want to wake up in the morning.

Last night I tried to ignore what was happening. I'd made my vote by post a week ago, so the day was nothing more than a long day doing two different jobs and being exhausted. My evening on the couch watching Netflix and playing back to back games of Patience, was my wind down. Perhaps I should have been watching the UK slowly sink. Perhaps I should have been involved in the shock, surprise and outrage. But I'm glad I waited till this morning, at least I managed to sleep well.

But this strange loss and sadness and unease, is somehow balanced with hope. I can't believe it's the end of the world as we know it. I can't believe that we're somehow going to slip into a YA Dystopian novel. But I do believe that we are a nation of survivors and that shitty things happen but we can fight against it. If it does turn into the Hunger Games, then let's revolt. Let's have ourselves an up rise! But there are lots of people threatening to move out of the Country which would then leave the Country in the hands of the people that made this happen, giving very little chance for change. If the people who didn't want this, give up, then the baddies will always win.

And if we do give up, how can we ever instigate change in the future? Yes we'll have five years of this government, but we still have the power to make a difference. Otherwise you could question why small political parties such as Green or Independent, even bother, when they must know they're not going to win their seat. But they keep campaigning, and they keep trying to change things and trying to offer hope. And we as the people of Britain have to keep doing that too. Keep voting, keep making your thoughts known. Keep fighting for what you believe in, because lying down and just taking it, is not my style. People beat you down and you fight back, in whatever way works for you.

Maybe deep inside me there is a little political monster, lurking, hiding, previously scared to voice her opinions, or even have an opinion. And maybe it took a day like today for me to realise that, but come on people, Dystopian's are horrible, but we love them. And why do we love them? Maybe because there are always survivors and there are always people who fight against and rise up against the powerful. Hopefully we won't have to do it with brute strength and physical violence as I have no upper body strength and haven't thrown a genuine punch ever, but on second thoughts maybe we should up the Archery programmes in schools, just in case. Katniss is awesome with a bow and arrow. Plus it's all very Robin Hood. Ooo. We could add survival classes to the curriculum. I digress.

I just think that things could always be worse. I am thankful we are not under a dictatorship like some places in the world. I am thankful that we live in a nation where women can vote and can be elected as MPs and one day Prime Minister - come on ladies I know someone out there is dying for the job. I am also thankful that the amount of female MPs is on the increase - around 30% this election - going up slowly, but heading in the right direction. I am thankful, so thankful and happy that the Green's kept their seat in Brighton. I was really hoping for them to gain my constituencies vote too, from Holborn St Pancras, but even under a defeat in Camden the Greens are happy and hopeful for the future because their support has shot up. Maybe next time guys.

I do worry about the amount of UKIP votes, but then am pleased that only equates to 1 seat. That party scares the crap out of me, as one of my main joys in life would be if everyone could get along and if prejudice and all the isms could be wiped out. I do realise my extreme naivety, don't worry.

Wouldn't it be interesting if we had speed politics instead, and a Prime Minister and their government only ran for a year or two years? That way they'd have to be concise and fast acting otherwise they'd be sure to be ousted at the next election. That way, when smaller parties are gaining momentum, they would only have to campaign over a shorter spell and might make some surprise results. Everyone would have to be on their toes and there would always be this looming threat of being chucked out. Ha ha. I'm sure there are millions of ways this would be terrible, was just an idea. But five years is a heck of a long time.

Okay, it's probably time for me to skoot now. As I've demonstrated, I know nothing, except that there is always a sprinkling of hope. If you are going to declare that by this new government we are entering a YA dystopian future then there has to be a pin prick of light. So let's focus on those pin pricks and concentrate on breaking through the darkness.

On the Prime Minister's speech, I can't help thinking that in his head he was singing, 'Na, na, na, na, na. I won all on my own. Ha ha.' I also imagine him in flannel pyjamas jumping on his bed, sticking his tongue out making raspberry noises. Just an image I thought I'd leave you with.

Man, sometimes I wish Hugh Grant was Prime Minister like in Love Actually, making speeches about David Beckham and Harry Potter.

Rants





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